Labeling machine



Nov. 29, 1949 a. w. VON HOFE LABELING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 28 19 uvvszvron. GEORGE M 1 0 flan: BY

/ITTORNEY Nov. 29, 1949 s. w. VON HOFE LABELING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 28, 1944 I I PHHHI INVENTOR. 650m: HUM/0P5 KITTO/P/VEV Patented Nov. 29, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LABELING MACHINE George W. von Hoi'e, Bound Brook, N. J., assignor to New Jersey Machine Corporation, i-lobolren, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey.

Application December 28, 1944, Serial No. 570,057

1 Claims.

The invention relates to labeling machines and more particularly to that type of such machines in which the labels are carried by transfer means from one point or station in the machine to am other point or station therein and in which the carried labels are subjected to a step in the operative cycle of the machine, during said transfer. Machines of the class under discussion are exemplified by those in which the labels, in transit between a pick-up station and an applying station, are provided with a coating of adhesive by means of an adhesive applicator.

The invention has for its object to provide such machines with novel means cooperating with the transfer means to prevent the labels carried thereby from being disturbed during transit, prior to their application to the articles for which they are intended.

The invention has for another object to provide said labeling machines with novel means cooperating with the transfer means to prevent the labels from adhering to the adhesive applicator during the adhesive-applying operation.

The invention contemplates further the provision of a novel arrangement associated with the label transfer means whereby a label carried by the latter is prevented from unintentionally being detached from said transfer means, for instance, as a result of adhering to the surface of the adhesive-applying roller as said label passes in adhesive-receiving relation therewith.

Another object of the invention is to provide a novel arrangement designed specially for increasing the operative efliciency of mechanism for applying labels of large dimensions.

Other objects will appear from the description hereinafter and the features of novelty will be pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate an example of the invention without defining its limits,

Fig. l is a sectional plan view of the labeling machine and the novel mechanism; and

Fig. 2 is an elevation of the novel mechanism in place in the labeling machine.

The labeling machine, as such, may be of any well-known type such as, for instance. includes adhesive-applying means and carrying or transfer means for carrying a label in adhesivereceiving relation with said applying means to receive a coating of adhesive therefrom. as shown, for instance, in my United States Patent No. 2,227,816 of January 7, 1941.

Such labeling machines comprise a. suitable supporting frame Ill on which a sullli l of labels as ii, generally in the form of a stack, is supported at a pick-up station in operative relation to an adhesive-applying means which may include an adhesive-applying roller l2 and an adhesive distributing roller I! or their equivalent, mounted on the frame in any convenient manner. At the label-applying station of the machine, provision is made for supporting the articles to be labeled in label-receiving position for instance on a suitable article support which in turn is located in operative relation to the adhesive-applying means and other cooperating instrumentalities of the machine.

The machine ma further comprise transfer means whereby successive terminal labels ii are removed from the supply stack and carried in traveling adhesive-receiving relation to the adhesive-applying roll I! or its equivalent to progressively receive a coating of adhesive therefrom and subsequently to apply the adhesive-coated label at the applying station to the article for which it is designed.

In the illustrated example, the transfer means is of the suction operated type and comprises a suction head It connected by means of a tube T with a source of suction and mounted for vertical reciprocation on a carriage capable of being horizontally reciprocated on a guide rail by suitable mechanism which may include an arm carried by a rock-shaft as shown in my Patent No. 2,227,816. The arrangement is such that the shaft is rocked to thereby correspondingly oscillate the arm and thus reciprocate the carriage and with it the suction head It between the label pick-up station and the label applying station and vice versa.

At the pick-up station, the suction head M is vertically operated to pick up the terminal label II from the supply stack and to lift said label in surface engagement with the active face of said suction head It in the customary manner. The suction head It is then shifted'to the left and carries the label H, which is located on the active surface of the suction head It at the time. into traveling adhesive-receiving relation with the adhesive-applying roll l2 to progressively receive a coating of adhesive therefrom.

These operative steps finally bring the suction head it carrying the adhesive coated label II to the applying station. At this point, the suction head I4 is moved downwardly to apply the label ii to the article on the support at the time.

At the proper moment. suction in the suction head It is relieved and the latter is raised to leave the applied label II on said article, and to Journalled in detached from the sucti wrapped about the surface of obviously objectionable results.

various arrangements have been overcoming the aforesaid objection. such as, for

grooves at spaced intervalsintheperipheralsurfaecoftheapplying roll it for the reception of hesive. In labels of large dimensions. the total dry or adhesive free area may be relatively large, and in any case, may prevent efficient adhesion of the label to the article.

The instant novel arrangement avoids. the aforesaid disadvantages and eiliciently maintains the carried labels against unintentional detachment from the transfer means throughout its travel from the pick-up station to the applying station or equivalent range of travel. in the illustrated example, the novel arrangement makes it possible to apply an unbroken overall coating of adhesive to the label regardless of its dimensions, in an emcient and uniform manner.

Intheformshowninthedrawingmtheno'vel arrangement grippin members it carried by a shaft III in tangential relation thereto and fixed thereon at spaced intervals in predetermined numbers dependent upon the dimensions of the suction head It and the type of labeling being done. The men is at their lower ends terminate in trans members le-a whichinturmasshowninrigure l,are formed with relatively reduced gripping fingers is-b tocooperate with "-4:

formed in the active face of said head ll,

to develope a clamping action on the label carried thereby, as will be more fully set forth hereinafter. In some cases the arrangement may include a single rippin member II and its associated elements.

In the illustrated example. the shaft 20 extends lengthwise of the suction head it in contiguous relation to edge a thereof, and is ings ii carried by rocking levers If. The latter are pivotally mounted at a on the suction head It at opposite sides thereof, and are influenced by springs "-1.; having one end attached to a lever 22, and the other endconnectedwiththeslideofthemachine. At one end, as levers 22 each project beneath and in registry with a depending stop screw is adiustably mounted on a lug It forming part of thesuctionhead llatoppositesidesthereofas shown in Fig. 1.

The shaft III, at its opposite ends. proiects outwardly beyond thebearingsfhandonthese projecting ends carries bell-crank levers IO, acted on by springs 28-0 connected therewith and withpinsontheleversil. 'l'hearmsofthe bell-crank levers II are provided with rollers 31 andl8.respectively,asshown. ltaehbell-crank 7g Ilto 4 leverflincludesathirdarmonwhichastwscrew it is adlustably mounted for cooperation with an associated stop-lug tlprojecting from the contiguous rocking lever 22 to arrest the pivotal movements of the bell-crank levers in one direction as will appear more fully hereinafter.

in the operation of the machine, the beiherank levers fl and their associated parts partake of the reciprocating movements of the suction head it, with the rollers 11 each moving lengthwise of an angle-member iii fixed in a stationary position on the frame it at opposite sides thereof in any convenient manner as by brackets II. At its one end, or specifically in the instant arrangement. at its left hand end, each member ii is provided with a stop device 33 located in the path of one of the rollers 21 and preferably adiustably mounted in place. for instance. by means of a screw and slot 34. At the other end. specifically the righthand end, a bracket 3! is fixed upon and depends from each of the angle members 3i. said brackets each including a horizontal member it having a camming section comprisin! an inclined or bevelled surface 11 as shown in Fig. 2. Each surface 31 is located in the path of one of the rollers II when the latter occupy positions predetermined by the clamping positions of the gripping members it. The stopdevices SI and the horizontal members 3! with their bevelled surfaces II are located in contiguous operative relation to the termini of the reciprocating operative-movements of the suction head it, respectively, for the purpose of operating the gripping members I! in proper timing in the operative cycle of the machine as will be more clearly set forth hereinafter.

In addition to the parts so far described, each lever 22 may be provided with an upwardlyextending member 38 provided near its upper end with a roller 39 adapted to cooperate with an angle iron Iii suitably fixed upon one of the brackets 32 as shown in Fig. 1.

As the suction head it approaches the terminus of its right hand movement toward the pickup station for the purpose of picking up a terminal label ii from the supply stack, the rollers 28 will engage the bevelled surfaces 31 and come to rest on the upper surface of the horizontal member 36 as shown by dotted lines at the right in Fig. 2. As this occurs, the surfaces 31 will develope a camming action on the rollers 28 whereby the levers 22 are rocked on their pivots 2i and the bell-crank levers 2B are pivotally actuated relatively to said levers 22 to rock the shaft 20 in a direction to shift the rippin members it to inoperative positions and thereby remove the gripping fingers iB-b out of the recesses H-a and out of clamping engagement with the suction head it, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2. This adjustment of the rillping fingers iO-b to inoperative positions is such as to avoid interference by said fingers lQ-b. with the downward movement of the suction head It into contact with the supply stack of labels H.

As the terminal label I I is lifted from the stack by the suction head ll and said suction head and label travel to the left toward the applying station, the roller 28 will leave the member 30 and travel downwardly on the bevelled surface 31 and enable the springs "-0 to rock the levers it on their pivots 28, and the bell-crank levers beactuatedbythesprings IHtorook the shaft Ill in a direction to shift the gripping fingers lS-b back into the recesses ll-a, to clamp the advancing i'orward edge or the label I l in place on the suction head M.

In this condition, the label ii is carried by the suction head it in adhesive-receiving relation to the adhesive applying roller i2 and receives an overall coating oi adhesive therefrom. The clamping action or the gripping fingers ilb on the advancing forward edge of the carried label li, prevents the latter from adhering to the roller l2 and wrapping itself around the same. As a result, each label ii carried by the suction head i4 is efliciently coated with adhesive and in the continued travel of the suction head is is transported toward the label applying station or the machine. As this station is approached, the rollers 21 finally will engage the stop devices 83, and, in proper operative sequence, the rollers 38 will contact the respective angle irons I.

As the movement of the suction head ll to the left continues subsequently to the aforesaid contact of the rollers 21 with the stop devices 33, corresponding movement of the rollers 21 will be arrested by said stop devices 33 to cause the latter to develop a force on said rollers 21 whereby the bell-crank levers 28 will be pivotally actuated to rock the shaft in a direction to swing the gripping members I 9 and shiit the gripping fingers l9-b out of the recesses ll-a ot the suction head ll. In proper timing, the rollers 38, by engagement with the angle irons, will press the members 38 in a manner to pivotally actuate the levers 22 and supplement the operation oi the levers 26. The fingers lO-a are thereby adjusted to inoperative positions to release the label carried by the suction head I 4 at the time, from the gripping action thereof, and so as not to interfere with the application of the labels to the articles.

In proper timing, the suction head I with the adhesive-coated label supported on the active face thereof, is moved downwardly in any suitable manner as by means of the mechanism illustrated in my Patent No. 2,227,816 previously mentioned herein. As previously stated, the inoperative positions of the gripping members l and the gripping fingers ll-b thereof, are such as not to interfere with the proper deposit oi said label on the article located in label-receiving relation at the time, on the support ll. At the proper moment, suction in the suction head I4 is relieved by mechanism, for instance, such as disclosed in my previously-mentioned patent, and the suction head is raised to leave the label ii in adhesive connection with said article in an initial deposit thereon.

In proper timing, the suction head II is raised by suitable mechanism such as, for instance, illustrated in my previously-mentioned patent, to a level above the adhesive-applying roller i2 and then shifted to the right until said suction head it is again positioned above the stack of labels ll whereupon the cycle of operations herein described is repeated.

In proper timing with the aforesaid operations, a suitable pressure member such as, for instance, illustrated in my previously-mentioned patent is caused to develop a pressure on the initially,- deposited label whereby the adhesive application or said label to said article is completed.

The novel mechanism is simple in construction and provides means 0! maximum emcien'cy for preventing successive labels carried by the suctherefrom during conveyance or specifically from adhering to the adhesive-applying roller I! in the transfer oi a coating of adhesive therefrom to said labels and being thereby detached from said suction head I. The arrangement is such that in the illustrated example oi the utility of the novel arrangement, an overall coating of adhesive is applied to each label, tree from any dry spots, which is oi importance particularly in labels oi relatively large dimensions for which the novel mechanism is particularly adapted. As a result, the labels are adheslvely attached to the articles for which they are designed in an emcient manner regardless of the external shape or dimensions of said articles.

The novel mechanism is capable of being readily introduced into existing labeling or other machines, and at the same time, may be combined with labeling and other machines of special design involving special operative cycles such as applying labels distinctive, for instance, in the matter of dimensions.

Although the present invention has been described in conjunction with a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that modifications and variations may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope oi the invention, as those skilled in the art will readily understand. Such variations and modifications are considered to be within the purview and scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a machine having an operative cycle including the step of transierring sheet material from one point of said machine, past means for operating on said sheet material, to another distant point therein over a given path of movement. the combination of transfer means for picking up said sheet material in a given position at a predetermined point 01' said path and holding and carrying said sheet material through the field or action 01 said operating means, in said given position for delivery therein to another predetermined distant point 01' said given path. adjustable means movable with said transler means and operating to prevent the rupture of its hold on said sheet material through such field of action and for maintaining said sheet material in said given position on said transfer means throughout said path 01' movement, and independent means operable respectively at said predetermined points of said path for shifting said adjustable means to an inoperative position thereat to enable said sheet material to be picked up in said given position and delivered therein at said another point oi said path.

2. In a labeling machine including a supply stack oi labels, an adhesive-applying roller, and a reciprocating suction head for removing successive terminal labels from said stack and carrying each label in traveling adhesive-receiving relation to said adhesive-applying roller to progressively receive a coating of adhesive therefrom, that improvement which comprises a rock-shaft journailed on said suction head and partaking of the movements thereol, a gripping member mounted on said rock-shalt for clamping a label on said suction head to prevent said label from adhering to said adhesive-applying roller in the application oi said coating 0! adhesive, a bellorank lever fixed on said rock-shaft, rollers mounted on the respective arms of said bell-crank lever, a cam member located in associated relation with one end of the reciprocating movements of said suction head for engagement by one of tion head ll from being unintentionally detached said rollers to operate said rock-shaft and shift aasaesc said gripping member to an inoperative position to enable said suction head to remove the tersheet material to articles, movable means having a sheet supporting surface for transferring such sheet material from one point on said machine to a point spaced therefrom, a rock-shaft, means on said transfer means for rotatably supporting said shaft, said supporting means being mounted for pivotal movement on said transfer means to enable said shaft to be shifted as a whole away from the sheet supporting surface of said transfer means. means including a yieldable member for normally maintaining said shaft and said supporting means in predetermined positions relative to said transfer means. a gripping member mounted on said rock-shaft for clamping the sheet material to said transfer means, means carried by said transfer means for normally maintaining said grinning member in clamping position. operable means fixed to said rock-shaft, means at said first mentioned point in the travel of said transfer means constructed and arranged to enact with said operable means to rotate said shaft so as to shift said grippin member to an unclamping position, and means spaced from said first mentioned point and constructed and arranged to coact with said operable means to rotate said shaft so as to shift said gripping memher to an unclamping position and to pivotally move said shaft supporting means so as to shift said shaft with the gripping member held in unclamping position away from the sheet supporting surface of said transfer means.

i. In a labeling machine, a vertically movable and horizontally translatable suction head havinga label carrying surface capable of picking up a label and carrying the same from a point of label supply, past means for operating on such label, to a place for deposit of such label, a grip ing flnger located adjacent to the label carrying surface of said head, means movable horizontally with said head and supporting said finger for pivotal movement relative to said head, said finger being adapted in one position to have a portion thereof in cooperating relation with a portion of the label carrying surface of said suction head to prevent rupture of the latter's hold on a label in the field of action of the operating means, and in another tion thereof to have such portion withdrawn from such surface and from the path of the vertical movement of such surface, and means operable independently of said place of deposit and controlled by the movement of said head for effectin movement of the finger from the said one position to the other during movement of said head and prior to the arrival of said head at said place of deposit.

5. In a labeling machine, a vertically movable and horizontally translatable suction head having a label carrying surface capable of picking up a label and carryin the same from a point of label supply. past means for operating on such label, to a place for deposit of such label. a gripping finger located adiacent to the label carrying surface of said head, means movable horizontally with said head and su porting said finger for pivotal movement relative to said head. said finger being adapted in one position to have a portion thereof in cooperating relation with a portion of the label carrying surface of said suction head to prevent rupture of the latter's hold on a label in the field of action of the operating means, and in another position thereof to have such portion withdrawn from such surface and from the path of vertical movement of such surface, and means controlled by the movement of the head relative thereto and operable at an end of the horizontal movement of such head and prior to the arrival of the latter at said place of deposit for effecting movement of the finger from the said one position to the other, whereby such label is carried solely by said suction head during the remainder of the latter's movement to said place of deposit.

6. In a labeling machine, a vertically movable and horizontally translatable suction head having a label carrying surface, a. gripping finger located adJacent to the label carrying surface of said head, means movable horizontally with said head and supporting said finger for pivotal movement relative to said head. said finger being adapted in one position to have a portion thereof in cooperating relation with a portion of the label carrying surface of said suction head to hold a label on the latter and in another position thereof to have such portion withdrawn from such surface and from the path of vertical movement of such surface, resilient means normally urging pivotal movement of said finger to one of said positions, and integral operating means associated with said head for moving the finger during movement of said head to said other position against the action of said resilient means, said resilient means being operable on said finger independently of said last mentioned means.

7. In a labeling machin a supply stack of labels. adhesive applying means, an article support, a movable transfer means capable of independently removing successive labels from said stack and carrying each label in adhesive receiving relation to said adhesive applying means and into applying relation with an article on said support, said transfer means being vertically movable at the supply stack and article support and horizontally movable in its travel intermediate the latter, a plurality of associated spaced gripping members located lengthwise of said transfer means in spaced relation for clamping an edge portion of a label carried by said transfer means in place thereon at spaced intervals against being stripped from said transfer means by the action of the adhesive applyin means, and integral operating means associated with said transfer means for concurrently adjusting all of said associated gripp n members to inoperative positions where they will be removed from the path of the label carrying surface of said transfer means prior to the removal of each label from said stack and prior to its deposit on an article, respectively.

8. In a labeling machine, a supply stack of labels, an adhesive applying roller, an article support, a reciprocating suction head for removing successive labels from said stack and carryin each label in adhesive receiving relation to said applying roller and into applying relation with an article on said support, said transfer means being vertically movable at the supply stack and article support and horizontally movable in its travel intermediate the latter and while bringing the label carried thereb into engagement with said adhesive applying roller, a rock shaft journalled on said suction head and extending linearly thereof, a gripping member fixed on said rock shaft for clamping an edge of a label carried by said suction head in place thereon against being stri ped from said suction head by the action of the adhesive applying roller, and integral opening means associated with said suction head and operable at predetermined points in the travel of said head to move said rock shaft and thereby to shift said gripping member to an inoperative position where it will be removed from the path of the label carrying surface of said suction head prior to the removal of each label from said stack and prior to its deposit on an article, respectively.

9. In a labeling machine, an article support, a s ction head having a label carry ng surface and having one direction of movement in carrving a label from a source of label supply to said article sup ort and another direction of movement at said article support to deposit a label carried by such surface upon a face of an article, a gripping finger located adiacent to the label carrvin surface of said head. means movable horizontally with said head and supporting said fin er for pivotal and translatory movement relative to said head, said finger being ada ted during the said one direction of movement of said head to have a portion thereof in cooperating relation with a portion of the label carryin surface of said suction head to hold a label on the latter, and means operative to pivot said finger so as to withdraw the said portion thereof from the label carrying surface of said suction head and to withdraw said finger bodily from the plane of such label carrying surface, whereby said finger is completely withdrawn from the path of movement of such label carrying surface and is positioned in back of the plane of such surface during the movement of the latter in said other direction to apply the label to an article.

10. In a labeling machine, an article support, a suction head having a label carrying surface and having one direction of movement in carrying a label from a source of label supply to said article support and another direction of movement at said article support to deposit a label carried by such surface upon a face of an article, a gripping finger located adjacent to the label carrying surface of said head, means movable horizontally with said head and supporting said finger for translatory movement relative to said head, said finger being adapted during the said one direction of movement of said head to have a portion thereof in cooperating relation with a portion of the label carrying surface of said suction head to hold a label on the latter, and means operative to withdraw said finger bodily from the plane of such label carrying surface, whereby said finger is completely withdrawn from the path of movement of such label carrying surface and is positioned in back of the plane of such surface during the movement of the latter in said other direction to apply a label to an article.

GEORGE W. you HOPE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,311,643 Fischer July 29,1919 1,343,264 Gwinn June 15, 1920 1,583,411 Meyer May 4, 1926 2,025,481 Stussi Dec. 24, 1935 r 2,156,134 Von Hofe Apr. 25, 1939 2,384,241 Eisner 1- Sept. 4, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 273,713 Germany May 2, 1914 

